ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Consulate General in Jeddah on Thursday launched a WhatsApp service to facilitate the expatriate community in Saudi Arabia amid coronavirus restrictions.

Saudi government has restricted public movement to and from different cities with limited curfew in certain areas in order to contain the spread of novel coronavirus pandemic, the consulate said. 

“In these circumstances, in order to facilitate Pakistani community in getting NOC (no objection certificate) for local burial of their loved ones in the western region of the Kingdom, Pakistan Consulate in Jeddah has started WhatsApp service during the restrictions period,” a statement issued by the consulate read.

Officials have been appointed by the consulate to facilitate the Pakistani expat community in this regard. 

Earlier, Pakistan’s Consul General in Jeddah, Khalid Majid, urged the Pakistani community to “strictly comply” with the precautionary measures put in place by Saudi authorities to curb virus spread. 

The number of coronavirus victims in Saudi Arabia reached 1,720 on Thursday, with 16 reported deaths. 

The Kingdom has instructed its citizens to adhere to social distancing measures by staying at home during the partial curfew applied in different parts of the country while the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah were placed under 24 hour curfew on Thursday.